Jen’s Neighborhood

I finally did something! I finally bought myself a pan so I can make cupcakes, muffins etc in.  Yesterday I made confetti cupcakes.  They are delicious.  Rocco and I ate three yesterday together.  My batch made about 17 cupcakes.  :-)

   Wow, it's certainly been a long time since I last wrote!  Of course a lot of things have changed or are changing.  I will

just mention a "few" things.  First of all my sister is moving to Vegas within a month also for a new job.  I am very happy for her and excited to have her here with me.  I also got a small promotion has work and a small raise in pay.   Every little bit helps!  I still work at the resort and still really like my job there.  My birthday is coming up.  I am excited for that too.  My dog Rocco is still as loving as ever.  I certainly am one lucky "chihuahua mama!"  :-)
   My mom was here in Vegas about two weeks ago visiting me.  Her and I celebrated my birthday early and she and my Dad both gave me a wonderful "Canon" camera for my gift.  I had broken my previous digital camera.  That may also be a reason I haven't blogged for the past 6 months.  My sister and I both decided we missed our blogging here on Vox and are going to start blogging again at least two times a week. 
   Going to go eat dinner soon.  Maybe another Indian Palak tv dinner?  Right now Rocco, "my chi" is sitting on my lap as I type this and we're sort of watching "America's Funniest Home Videos" on tv together.
    I finally got cable!  Just the very basic package from my provider, but I get good shows like AFV as mentioned, Jeopardy, Wheel of Fortune, and Man vs. Food on the Travel channel.  It is about this guy who has a history in the restaurant business who goes all around the country o restaurants to eat the "ultimate" foods like a 7 pound burrito, HUGE steaks and burgers and the spiciest curry in the country.  In the curry episode it the chef wore a gas mask in the kitchen while he prepared the cuurry because even the fumes were so hot and would have closed up his throat.  The restaurant owner even told the host "Adam" that a guest's nose began bleading while eating it!  OMG!  Why would anyone eat that you would think?  Adam ate the entire bowl of curry but not without loads of sweat.  It's a fun show!  I like it.....obviously.  :-)
   

     My mom and dad sent me a "care" package this weekend filled with some old VHS tapes that I like and other great things too.  They sent some Disney VHS's  like, "Hercules", "Sleeping Beauty" and "Mulan" + more.  They also sent me some of my sweaters that I didn't think I would need moving here from Denver, but I really am glad they did because it does get cold here sometimes.  A few weeks ago, we actually got some snow.  O___o  I am wearing one of the sweaters now.  ^___^  It is cool, rainy and gray here today so I surely can wear one.  I <3 this kind of weather! My mom also sent me my favorite candy, "Swedish Fish" (gummies) and my dad included for me a little painted "War Unicorn" from his "Warhammer" series which he paints and collects alot.  He knows I also collect Unicorn figures.  (One of my MANY collections)
       My mom and dad are coming to visit me in a couple weeks.  I am so excited!  I miss them so much.  We mostly have "food" plans so far.  Food is an important part of Las Vegas though.  There are SO many great places to eat here.  When my parents do arrive, we are going to for sure eat at the "Wynn Buffet".  I ate there once and it was AMAZING!  My dad really likes buffets so I know he will <3 it too.  We are of course going to do other things besides eating out, but eating out is just plain ol' fun!!!!

What are your top 3 current goals?

1)  Manage, Save, and Make as much $$$ as possible to keep me floating during our recession.

2)  Lose 15 more lbs to get to my goal weight range.

3)  Become an "Executive Secretary" someday at my place of employment and make more $$$.

I am hanging out with Jen. She rocked the shit out of System of a Down's B.Y.O.B on Wii Guitar Hero. It was pretty much like watching a unicorn fly across the sky during a meteor shower. The greatest thing ever.

This video made me pee my pants a little.

    Been listening to some jazz vocals in the morning when I am getting ready for work or when I just want to relax lately.  I like the style of music reminiscent of Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby, Doris Day etc.  I like Michael Buble and Josh Groban, whom I think most of us are familiar with.  I also like a female artist in the same somewhat fashion of music named Jane Monheit.  I bought her newest cd today and are listening to it right now as I type this.  Some songs are slow and some are more upbeat.  I don't buy many cds anymore because they are of course expensive and usually I only like 2 songs on them.  In this case I like all the songs of each one of this artists cds.  Might go make a cup of tea now, veg with Rocco and listen to some of this mellow music.......

   Tis the new year.  2008 was a wonderful year for me and I hope 2009 will be too!  My sister Jen

is coming to see me this coming week.  We have plans to go eat Korean food again and also go to Margaritaville on the strip to eat their legendary nachos!  Margaritaville, I am told, is a Jimmy Buffett themed restaurant.  My sister has been there before and wants me to also experience it too when she comes here with her.  I think we will also do some shopping at the Chinatown stores and also get cupcakes at some of the many cupcake bakeries here.  My sister loves her cupcakes! 
    This past weekend I bought my lil' Rocco some new clothes.  I bought him a tuxedo print sweater and also a tee which says on the back of course "Squirrels can't be trusted".  I inserted some pictures of each.  They are absolutely adorable and Rocco really does like them.  I think they are some sort of "security blanket" item to him now.  He is excited when I go to put him in them and has never bit at them or tried to rip them off ever!  He is such a good boy. (Mamas boy)  ^___~
    Work is still great.  Has been a lot more busy since we opened our twin hotel with the resort, but I feel very blessed to have such a great job.  I really like my boss, co-workers, atmosphere, shift, etc.  I can't really complain at all.
    Christmas and New Years were fine. Wasn't quite the same not being with family.  There felt an emptiness in the back of my heart and soul a bit.  I worked New Years Eve and Day.  They were just normal days, evenings, and nights for me.  Rocco and I went to bed about 9pm on New Years Eve.  We woke up for less than a minute at midnight of course due to some neighborhood fireworks.  We then went right back to sleep and slept like babies.  :-)
    I am still really liking it here in Las Vegas.  I never thought I would end up in this particular city, but things are wonderful and really working out for me.  I can't complain as I said before in this entry about really anything in my life now.  That is really neat to feel.  :-) 

     Aw, finally the weekend!  This week was just "alright" at work.  I have had better and worse weeks.  My boss is

moving into her own office next week.  She has been in the main office she shares with my co-worker and I for I do not know how long.  She is constantly interrupted by different people from doing her own work with other managers giving her projects or silly questions from everyone like,  "How does the printer work?" or "Where is so and so?"  I seriously would be amazed if she goes more than five minutes without being interrupted.  I feel bad for her in that way, but am happy now that she is getting her own office.  Maybe she will be able to concentrate on her own work now?  Does anyone have any good ideas for a "new office" funny gift???
      My parents are coming to visit me next week from Colorado for an early Christmas with me.  I am very excited.  I miss my mom and dad so much but I have amazed myself as well as them of how strong I have been moving here all by myself.  I mean I thought I would cry in loneliness and in missing them all of the time.  I think Rocco has helped a great deal and also having such a great boss at work this time around.  I did not like my old boss from the bank at all!!!
     Moving here on my own I think has not only helped me mature more, but also mature in my hobbies.  I am not interested in anime or manga as much anymore. I still like it, but really do not see myself collecting it as much as in the past. I still play my Nintendo DS lite and also now like to read "real" books more like "Mirror Mirror" by author Gregory Maguire.  I also have uncovered my old passion for writing and creating stories again.  I am happy either way with no anime or anime now I think.  ^___~
     Today is going to be a relaxing day for Rocco and I.  I just went to buy groceries at Wal-Mart this morning and now I plan on just staying home the rest of the day and not doing much.  Sometimes that is the most fun thing to do!  :-)

 

    I am so happy here in Vegas.  I have made friends with a co-worker at work named Tamar.  We both creepily have a lot in common.  Will not go into detail on that but just f.y.i.  :-)   She is very funny and can take jokes and duel them out too.  Her, my boss and I all work together in the same office daily and chat, gossip and work too together.  :-)  We talk about men, marriage and dating a lot which has to be our favorite subject.  Tamar and my boss are both married.  I am not.  They seriously and jokingly sometimes too try to play matchmaker for me.  They came to the prognosis, that I should have been born in 1926 instead of 86' to live during the 50's since I am old-fashioned when it comes to manners, dress, men, and courtship.  My boss says I am "conservative".  She is the one who thought I should have been born 60+ years earlier because I would have fit in perfectly with the women of the 50's.  She also said I remind her of a character in the movie "Pleasentville" with Reese Witherspoon and Toby McGuire.  I have never seen the movie, but she said to see it because she sees myself as someone in the movie.  Not Reese Witherspoon's character she said though???  Must go out and rent now so I may know what she is talking about......

   

 

  I have not written like I should be lately.  I am SOOOOOOOOOOO happy here in Vegas though with a whole new life; new job, apartment, dog and outlook on things.  My sister Jen mentioned in her blog after her trip to see me last month that I have come a long way in the past year and we as a family are all happier for it.  I know I am happy and happy that they are now too with me. 
   I still really like my job at the Resort.  As mentioned I do mainly administrative work in the Horticulture department there.  It is so nice.  I really like my boss and co-workers.  I do not have problems with anyone at work which is wonderful!  They are all seriously great people there.
   I set up my Christmas tree last night after I got home from work.  My boss gave me one of her old trees which she wasn't going to use anymore.  It is 4.5 feet and came with multi-colored lights already wrapped into the tree and it was very easy to set up.  Rocco wasn't quite sure of it at first.
    He is doing very well, my little chihuahua Rocco.  I <3 him.  I bought him a sweater for $2.50 at Target a couple weeks ago and he seems to like it.  He hasn't tried to claw at it, bite it or try to take it off himself in any way.  He is a cutie!  Well Happy Turkey Day everyone!  <3